Actions taken towards 44 vehicles using strobe and beacon lights

SHAH ALAM – Actions were taken to 44 vehicles for installing strobe and beacon lights as accessories throughout an eight-day operation by the Selangor Road Transport Department (RTD) since June 1 across the state.

Its director Datuk Khairul Khar Yahya said over 124 vehicles were inspected throughout the operation.

The operation led to the issuance of 74 notices to 44 private and commercial vehicles for the usage of the strobe and beacon lights.

"The notice was issued for using both lights as additional accessories meant for personal use.

"Road users are not comfortable with the misuse of strobe and beacon lights for private use, especially using the lights to go through congestions,” he said today.

He said that using these lights on personal or commercial vehicles may give the wrong warnings to other road users and could distract them, causing a loss of focus and endangering other motorists.

Commenting further, Khairul said that based on Rule 9 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959, only emergency vehicles such as ambulances or vehicles from the fire and rescue department, customs, police, prison and RTD were allowed to use these lights.

He emphasised that private vehicles that installed strobe and beacon lights as accessories (retrofitted) had been sued under Rule 94 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Rules 1959.

"Compound can be charged with not more than RM250 or may be prosecuted in court where the fine imposed not exceeding RM2,000 or prison not exceeding six months under the Road Transport Act 1987 Section119(1).

"Other than that, vehicles were given 10 days to go to the nearest RTD branch for inspection to ensure that they had been restored to original conditions,” he said.

RTD would continue with the same operations and actions to ensure road users complied with the rules and regulations.